Aeromet secure NATEP backing for A20X™ powder development project

A group of innovative companies led by Aeromet International are pleased to have been awarded funding from the National Aerospace Technology Exploitation Programme (NATEP) to further develop the innovative A20X™ advanced aluminium powder for additive manufacturing (AM).

As part of the High Strength Aluminium Powder for Additive Manufacture (HighSAP) project Aeromet, along with partners Renishaw, Rolls-Royce and PSI, are set to further optimise the A20X™ alloy for use in additive manufacturing and produce a set of demonstrator parts.

NATEP, an Aerospace Growth Partnership initiative, is an industry led programme supporting UK-wide companies in the aerospace supply chain to develop innovative technologies.

Mike Bond, Director of Advanced Material Technology at Aeromet, said: “We are very pleased to have been awarded NATEP funding for this exciting project. By working with our partners, we hope to further develop our powder technology and create a new option for high strength additive manufactured parts. NATEP is a great way for innovative companies to come together to develop cutting edge technologies”.

A20X™ for additive manufacturing

A20X™ is a family of next generation high-strength aluminium alloy technologies, developed and patented by Aeromet. The A20X™ family includes the Metallic Materials Properties Development and Standardisation (MMPDS) approved A205 casting alloy and A20X™ powder for additive manufacturing.  A20X™ is an aluminium-copper alloy with a highly-refined microstructure and a unique solidification mechanism, giving it greater strength, fatigue and thermal characteristics compared to other alloys. A20X™ castings are already in production for high strength, high temperature aerospace applications and the HighSAP project aims to exploit the potential of A20X™ for additive manufacturing. 

Renishaw, Rolls-Royce and PSI

Dr Martin McMahon, Business Development Manager of Global Solutions Centres at Renishaw added, “Renishaw is very pleased to be a part of this project and for the innovative new A20X™ aluminium powder to be further developed using Renishaw’s additive manufacturing systems and network of Solutions Centres”. He continued, “Renishaw's state of the art metal AM systems feature high power multiple lasers, class leading inert processing environment, and a unique open parameter development platform, making them ideal for investigating innovative new materials like A20X™”.

Paul Murray, Principal Materials Engineer at Rolls-Royce, commented: “Rolls-Royce are excited to participate in this project and contribute to the development of this very promising new aluminium alloy. NATEP is a proven programme with a strong track record of supporting innovation in the UK aerospace supply chain”.

Dr Gordon Kerr, PSI Ltd, said: “PSI are very pleased to be a partner in this project which aligns very well with our strategy of optimising powders for additive manufacturing.   PSI technology combines VIM with inert gas atomisation and this project will utilise our knowledge of processing and handling aluminium alloy powders”.

For more information on A20X™ powder please visit www.a20x.com/powder

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